The Oregon Pickleball Academy sets the standard for excellence in pickleball instruction and player development. We offer private lessons, private group instruction, clinics, camps, match play critiques, play with the pro opportunities, CORE rating sessions, and more — all designed to help players improve with purpose. We support athletes of every level, from beginners through recreational and competitive players. Let OPA elevate your game.
IPTPA Certified
Following in her older brothers’ footsteps, Kelsie grew up competing in several sports – you name it and she played it. Soccer and tennis were the two that stuck, and she competed in both at the high school level. Kelsie went on to play Division I tennis at the University of California, Davis, where she was a three-time All-Conference player and two-time co-captain. It was in college when her mom first introduced her to pickleball, and the rest is history.
Despite first picking up a paddle in 2016, it wasn’t until 2022 that Kelsie started playing pickleball regularly. She began competing in pickleball tournaments in 2025 and has medaled in singles and doubles. Kelsie has a fast and aggressive game style and enjoys engaging her opponents in hand battles at the kitchen line.
Kelsie taught tennis throughout high school and college and has worked with students aged 5-80. In 2021, Kelsie’s educational pursuits brought her to Oregon, where she attended OHSU to become a registered dietitian. It was during this time that she started teaching pickleball lessons as a way to get involved with her new community in Portland. Kelsie’s calm and patient demeanor allows her to meet her students where they are, and she never loses sight of the reason we all play pickleball – to have fun!
Originally from California, Kelsie is still adapting to the cold and wet Oregon winters. When she’s not on the pickleball court, you can find her lounging with her cat, cycling around the West Coast, or cooking up a new recipe.
IPTPA Certified
Raegan has several years of tennis teaching experience in Atlanta, GA. Originally from Sarasota, FL, Raegan started playing tournament tennis at age 9. She attended Georgia Southern University (GSU) on a tennis scholarship while earning a Bachelor of Business Administration. She played both singles and doubles going to nationals 3 years, winning the national doubles title, earning All American status and was inducted into the GSU Hall of Fame. She also played in Germany on a club tennis team during the summer.
Raegan’s teaching experience included both youth and adult tennis camps and individual lessons before she worked for many years in the legal field in Atlanta, GA as a paralegal and trial technology specialist. She continued playing USTA tennis going to nationals in Orlando, FL in 2017 and started seriously playing pickleball in 2017 winning 3 gold medals in singles and several doubles medals.
IPTPA Certified
Spencer grew up in Athens, Georgia where he developed a passion for sports, both playing and watching (Go Dawgs!). A Georgia Tech Computer Science graduate, Spencer spent over a decade in software engineering — building systems at fintech, clean energy, and sports and concert technology companies — before recently making the move west to Bend with his partner Kristin and their daughter, Stella.
Spencer discovered pickleball in 2020 after playing with his parents and was hooked immediately. He began competing in tournaments later that year and has medaled at the 4.0, 4.5, and 5.0 levels in both singles and doubles — including wins at PPA and APP pro qualifier events.
Whether you’re stepping onto the court for the first time or looking to sharpen your kitchen game and reset under pressure, Spencer meets players at their level and helps them build skills they can actually feel.
When he’s not on the pickleball court, you’ll find Spencer on the tennis courts at the Athletic Club of Bend, tending to his garden, or spending time with Kristin and Stella.
IFP Certified
Jared grew up in the beautiful Hood River Valley on the banks of the Columbia River in Hood River, Oregon. Athletic from birth his family says, he has excelled at every sport he has entered. From basketball to wrestling, baseball to soccer he has always given 110 percent, leading his team to state championships along the way. Jared has competed at the collegiate level and gained insight every step of the way on how to coach in a positive manner.
After relocating to Bend he was introduced to the amazing world of pickleball. It didn’t take long for Jared to realize he has found his forever sport. As Jared puts it “it was love at first hit.” Training to teach at the Pickleball Zone has lead him to his dream position at the Zone. His passion for perfecting a sport combined with his natural gift for teaching has created a balance in creating a coach that will take his students’ game to the next level.
Jared looks forward to climbing the ranks in the pickleball world as well as bringing his students’ skill levels up along the way. Enjoying working with players at all skill levels, Jared has the ability to hone in on just what his students need to focus on to achieve their goals.
Jared enjoys teaching both individual and group lessons, as well as camps and clinics at the Zone. One of his favorites is the “3 and Me” where he plays in and critiques to give immediate feedback to the three students.
IPTPA Certified
Allen spent his childhood in Aloha, Oregon, immersed in a variety of sports, often playing until the sun went down and beyond. While basketball was his first love, his wife Linda encouraged him to explore tennis. After dedicating several years to the game, he discovered pickleball and has been enthusiastic about the sport ever since.
Allen earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial education from Oregon State University and worked as a CNC Machinist for different companies for four decades. This role instilled in him the values of precision and patience, essential qualities for crafting accurate aerospace components. In 2016 Allen and Linda bought a house in Bend. Allen enjoys taking care of their large property and drives his tractor daily. Allen has had a passion for racing hydroplanes since childhood…a fact only his close friends know. His dad introduced him to the sport at a very young age culminating in his being inducted into the Hall of Champions for his achievements on and off the racecourse in 2004.
Long before retirement Allen became a certified pickleball referee and has refereed hundreds of matches. He later became a certified instructor and started teaching. His students love Allen’s enthusiasm and patience as he helps them develop their pickleball game.
IPTPA Certified
Conor grew up in Bend, where he enjoyed a variety of sports, including golf, soccer, and skiing. After graduating from Oregon State and later earning his MBA from Penn State, he spent more than a decade on the East Coast working in the medical device and surgical robotics industries.
Missing Bend and being closer to family, Conor returned home and soon discovered pickleball in late 2022. He quickly became passionate about the game, immersing himself in its strategy and intricacies before earning his certification as a pickleball instructor. Today, he enjoys competing in tournaments, coaching players, and helping organize clinics and community events.
Whether introducing beginners to the sport or helping experienced players elevate their game, Conor is passionate about creating a positive and engaging learning environment. His patient, encouraging coaching style helps players build confidence, sharpen their skills, and enjoy every step of their pickleball journey.
Mike’s love affair with racquet sports started early. Growing up with a father who loved tennis, Mike quickly learned that if there was an empty tennis court—or a tournament somewhere nearby—he and his dad were probably going to be there. He competed in Sectional and National Junior tournaments and eventually played four years of college tennis at USC, serving as team captain his senior year. After graduating from USC, Mike continued competing and even played in the US Open three years in a row with his sister, Stacy. Family competition apparently runs in the blood.
Mike discovered his love for coaching back in high school, and that passion eventually brought him back to his alma mater, Beverly Hills High School, where he coached both the boys’ and girls’ tennis teams. Over 20 years with the Beverly Hills Unified School District, coaching became much more than a job—it became a career he loved. Along the way, Mike was named California’s Tennis Coach of the Year in 2016 and was later honored with induction into the Beverly Hills Athletic Alumni Hall of Fame.
Then came retirement, or at least what Mike thought was retirement. After moving to Bend, Mike discovered Pickleball and naturally, decided he might as well get competitive at that too. He plays tournaments at the 4.5–5.0 level and occasionally tests himself against the Senior Pro crowd. When he’s not competing, he’s back where he loves to be: coaching.
Mike currently works with a number of high-level Pickleball players, sharing the knowledge he’s collected over decades of playing and coaching. His goal is simple: help players get better and have fun. Mike lives in Bend with his wife, Cathy, who has recently become an avid Pickleball player herself.
PPR Certified
Chris grew up in the Seattle area (Mercer Island) playing golf, tennis, and baseball. His father was an ‘A’ racquetball and handball player. As a kid Chris would play with his dad at the Washington Athletic Club on weekends and play racquetball where his father would spot him 19 points and play opposite handed and still beat Chris 21-19!
Chris graduated from Seattle University with a degree in accounting. He worked for Ernst & Young in the tax and audit departments for three years . This is where he met and married his wife Liz.
Chris and Liz have 3 boys and when their first child (Conner) was born Chris decided to be a stay at home dad. Two more boys (Sammy & Max) and 20+ years later Chris was fully entrenched in raising his sons. Chris & Liz became empty nesters and decided it was time to move from the Pacific Northwest. They stumbled upon Bend in the Broken Top community in 2020. Golf was Chris’ priority, but one day some neighbors asked them if they wanted to play “pickleball”. Chris had never seen or heard of the game and reluctantly tried it. (Addiction to this sport began at this point!)
The next day Chris was introduced to a very funny and witty man named Werner who became a great friend and mentor to Chris.
Ever since that first day Chris has never looked back and has a strong passion for the game and the people that play it. He loves to travel and play in tournaments across the country.
